Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano, Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson and St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 9.
FIRST STAR – MARK GIORDANO, D, CALGARY FLAMES
Giordano led the NHL with seven points (2-5—7) to power the Flames (9-5-2, 20 points) to two wins in three contests. He opened the week with 1-1—2, including an assist on Sean Monahan’s overtime winner, in a 4-3 triumph over the Washington Capitals Nov. 4. Giordano followed that up with a pair of assists in a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Nov. 6. He then capped the week with 1-2—3, matching a career high for points in one game, in a 6-4 win over the Florida Panthers Nov. 8. The 31-year-old Toronto, Ont., native currently has 4-7—11 during a six-game point streak, including multi-point performances in each of his last four outings (one game shy of the club record for a defenseman). Giordano also leads all blueliners with 5-13—18 in 16 games this season; he is just the fifth defenseman since 2005-06 to record at least 18 points through his team’s first 16 games of the season.
SECOND STAR – CRAIG ANDERSON, G, OTTAWA SENATORS
Anderson went 2-0-1 with a 0.65 goals-against average, .981 save percentage and one shutout to help the Senators (7-4-3, 17 points) gain five out of a possible eight standings points. He made 31 saves, including 16 in the second period, in a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Nov. 4. Anderson then stopped all 35 shots he faced to record his 28th career shutout (and second of the season) in a 3-0 win over the Minnesota Wild Nov. 6. He closed the week by posting 36 saves – and denying five of six shootout attempts – in a 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Nov. 8. The 33-year-old Park Ridge, Ill., native is 4-4-2 in eight appearances this season, leading the NHL with a .951 save percentage and ranking fourth with a 1.72 goals-against average.
THIRD STAR – VLADIMIR TARASENKO, RW, ST. LOUIS BLUES
Tarasenko, the NHL’s “First Star” for the week ending Nov. 2, tied for second in the League with six points (3-3—6) to lead the Blues (9-4-1, 19 points) to three victories in four starts. He recorded 1-1—2 and the shootout winner in a 4-3 triumph over the New York Rangers Nov. 3. Tarasenko then scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils Nov. 4 and helped the Blues complete the home-and-home sweep with 1-1—2 (his fifth multi-point performance of the season) in a 4-3 victory Nov. 6. He closed the week with an assist on the team’s only goal in a 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators Nov. 8. The 22-year-old Yaroslavl, Russia, native currently has 5-3—8 during a five-game point streak, tied for the longest of his career. He also leads the Blues with nine goals and 17 points in 14 games this season.
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* Information provided via NHL Press Release
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